LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Taliban leaders are holding Saudi-brokered talks with the Afghan government to end the country 's bloody conflict -- and are severing their ties with al Qaeda , sources close to the historic discussions have told CNN .

King Abdullah of Saudia Arabia hosted meetings between the Afghan government and the Taliban , a source says .

The militia , which has been intensifying its attacks on the U.S.-led coalition that toppled it from power in 2001 for harboring Osama bin Laden 's terrorist network , has been involved in four days of talks hosted by Saudi Arabia 's King Abdullah , says the source .

The talks -- the first of their kind aimed at resolving the lengthy conflict in Afghanistan -- mark a significant move by the Saudi leadership to take a direct role in Afghanistan , hosting delegates who have until recently been their enemies .

They also mark a sidestepping of key `` war on terror '' ally Pakistan , frequently accused of not doing enough to tackle militants sheltering on its territory , which has previously been a conduit for talks between the Saudis and Afghanistan .

According to the source , fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar -- high on the U.S. military 's most-wanted list -- was not present , but his representatives were keen to stress the reclusive cleric is no longer allied to al Qaeda .

Details of the Taliban leader 's split with al Qaeda have never been made public before , but the new claims confirm what another source with an intimate knowledge of the militia and Mullah Omar has told CNN in the past .

The current round of talks , said to have been taken two years of intense behind-the-scenes negotiations to come to fruition , is anticipated to be the first step in a long process to secure a negotiated end to the conflict .

But U.S. - and Europe-friendly Saudi Arabia 's involvement has been propelled by a mounting death toll among coalition troops amid a worsening violence that has also claimed many civilian casualties .

A Saudi source familiar with the talks confirmed that they happened and said the Saudis take seriously their role in facilitating discussions between parties to the conflict .

A second round of talks is scheduled to take place in two months , the Saudi source said .

The Afghan government believes the Taliban can not be defeated militarily , and the Taliban believe that they ca n't win a war against the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan , the Saudi source said .

The involvement of the Saudis is also seen as an expression of fear that Iran could take advantage of U.S. failings in Afghanistan , as it is seen to be doing in Iraq .

Several Afghan sources familiar with Iranian activities in Afghanistan have said Iranian officials and diplomats who are investing in business and building education facilities are lobbying politicians in Kabul . Learn more about King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia ''

The Afghan sources wish to remain anonymous due to their political roles .

Coalition commanders regularly accuse Iran of arming the Taliban , and Western diplomats privately suggest that Iran is working against U.S. interests in Afghanistan , making it harder to bring peace .

Saudi sources say perceived Iranian expansionism is one of Saudi Arabia 's biggest concerns . Watch CNN 's Nic Robertson report on the meeting ''

The talks in Mecca took place between September 24 and 27 and involved 11 Taliban delegates , two Afghan government officials , a representative of former mujahadeen commander and U.S. foe Gulbadin Hekmatyar , and three others .

King Abdullah broke fast during the Eid al-Fitr holiday with the 17-member Afghan delegation -- an act intended to show his commitment to ending the conflict . Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan , the Muslim holy month of fasting . Learn more about Ramadan ''

Saudi Arabia was one of only three countries that recognized the Taliban leadership during its rule over Afghanistan in the 1990s , but that relationship was severed over Mullah Omar 's refusal to hand over bin Laden .

During the talks , described as an ice breaker , all parties agreed that the only solution to Afghanistan 's conflict is through dialogue , not fighting .

Further talks are expected in Saudi Arabia involving this core group and others .

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King Abdullah hosted talks in city of Mecca at end of September , source says

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Saudi Arabia has generally dealt with Afghanistan through Pakistan

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Talks are the first aimed at bringing a negotiated settlement to the Afghan conflict

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All parties agreed only solution to Afghan conflict is dialogue , not fighting